STYLEnosh

SHOPPING TIPS – MORE PLACES TO SHOP

Yesterday I wrote about places to shop when you don’t like shopping. While I did give just a few stores to choose from, I forgot to mention that it wasn’t an exhaustive list. And naturally some of my lovely friends sent me some additional responses. So here are some other stores to consider for your wardrobe needs:

• NY & Co. – I personally don’t shop here often but I can say they have a decent selection of jewelry. Also, several people have confirmed that they have pants that actually fit tall (5’7’’ to 6’) women.
• Urban Outfitters – I’m surprised I missed this one. Urban Outfitters has a funky, eclectic vibe. They also have cool shoes and home furnishings like rugs and pillows. Be sure to check out the sale racks.
• High-end department stores – I didn’t list places like Bloomingdale’s or Nordstrom’s because these stores can be intimidating for the non-shopper. Yes, they do carry higher priced designer clothing but don’t forget they also have great sales. I have experienced some of my most memorable shopping deals/steals at Bloomingdale’s so I check the clearance racks regularly (especially in February and July during end-of-season sales).

If you love a store, share the knowledge and let us know about it!

SHOPPING TIPS - WHERE TO SHOP, WHEN YOU HATE SHOPPING

I hear it all the time. “I hate shopping.” Or “I don’t know where to go.” Or the ever popular, “I never find anything I like when I go shopping.” Does this sound like you?

Initially I could not understand why anyone would feel this way about my beloved shopping. But then I realized these feelings are similar to my complete disdain of shopping at home improvement stores. So I understand. Shopping may not be your thing and that’s cool. I’ve compiled a list of stores you may want to try while you’re working on building your fabulously stylish wardrobe.

THE BASICS (Places to Shop: Target, H&M, Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, J. Crew)
When I say basics I’m thinking t-shirts, tanks, hosiery, cardigans, and flat front pants. These items will be used in numerous ways so while you don’t have to spend a fortune, you don’t want to ignore fit or quality either.

FASHION TIPS – SPRING 2007 PICKS

There are so many trends for spring this year that it’s really hard for me to pick a few “must-haves”. Here are my picks for Spring 2007:

Brights – Works well with shoes and handbags in green and yellow hues.
Dresses – The easiest way to create an outfit is putting on a chic dress. Consider prints, floral patterns, and other spring trends like metallics or light fabrics.
Embellishments – Look for beading, baubles, anything that adds opulence to a piece.
Nautical – Think red, blue, and white colors or rope belt detailing.
Light fabrics – Silk and chiffon fabrics feel breezy and fresh for spring. Works well with dresses.
Pants – There are many cuts to choose from like wide-legged to skinny. Try neutral colors like khaki or black and pair them with bright jackets and tops.
Metallics – These shiny colors have become a fashion staple because they are the new neutrals. Even though gold and bronze still work (think dresses or handbags), silver is particularly hot this spring.
Shoes – Wedges and platforms reign again for spring but don’t forget to pick up a cute pair of flats. (You’ll thank me later.)
Bags – Have fun with handbags this spring. Bright colors in green, pink, or yellow or metallic hues are great choices. Consider all shapes from hobo or duffel to sleek clutches for daytime.

There you have it. Spring is here (at least in some parts of the world). Enjoy!!

IT'S NOT EASY TO TRY NEW THINGS BUT...

My goal is to motivate all of you to try new things with your look, or as I commonly say, “show the world the real you.” I am constantly prodding you to try something new. Therefore, I think it’s only fair that this logic should apply to me too. And since wearing crazy concoctions is not a difficult for me, I thought I should try something that would be a stretch. I decided that it was time to learn how to add photos to this blog.

I’ve been researching image editing techniques and let me assure you that I did not enjoy it. But then again it really wasn’t that bad. I needed a test picture to edit that was relevant to the content of this site. So I chose the lucky number you see here. This picture is a great example of thinking you’re fashionable until you look back at the photo 3 years later and realize it’s not that flattering. Basically these jeans make me look hippy and the faded detailing on the thighs is not helping at all. Not to mention the permanent crease down the middle. Overall, this pic is okay. I've got hips. It is what it is, right?

Anyhoo, the point is that I tried something new. So what small step can you take towards experimenting with new ideas in your wardrobe? Consider wearing a different shirt with your jeans this weekend. Or if you're fortunate enough to experience the great weather warm-up, bury the boots and slip on a pair of flats. You might just find that new does not always equal hard.

APPRECIATING THE WARDROBE YOU HAVE NOW

The buzz right now is all about The Secret. If you saw Oprah a couple of weeks ago, you know what I’m talking about. The last few years have taught me The Secret’s main premise, like attracts like. And before you can attract more or better, you have to appreciate what you have right now. This principle applies to every aspect of your life. Including your wardrobe.

Now you may be wondering, how can I appreciate last year’s shoes and clothes from another decade? Okay we both agree that it can be tough but it’s not impossible. When I was a kid I didn’t have the cool clothes from the mall. I’ll never forget what I wore on the first day of sixth grade: a camouflage shirt and baggy jeans. And believe me, camouflage was not in style back then. But by the time I got to high school I learned how to create my own style with my Kmart fashions. (One of my close friend’s family members still affectionately call me “Kmart”.) Fast forward 10 years and I’ve collected quite a lovely designer shoe collection. But when I look at my old pictures I see and appreciate the beginning of my fashion sense.

When you peer inside your closet what do you see? Do you think that it’s too small or too junky? Would your clothes look a little nicer if they hung in a bigger closet? Maybe you could use a bigger closet. It couldn’t hurt, right? But before you call your realtor you may want to consider being thankful for what you have now. Create your own style with the things that you have and learn to enhance that style with a few key additions over time.

Having more money or a bigger space to house your wares won’t make you more stylish. And you won’t successfully gain those things anyway if you’re not grateful for what you have now. Wearing clothes that look good on your body type combined with a bit of confidence is the foundation of style. And these elements are accessible to everyone, regardless of the size of your salary or your closet.

FASHION TIPS - WARDROBE MUST HAVES

After I read The Budget Fashionista’s article, “Ten things you should have in your closet”, it got me thinking about which pieces I consider to be closet must haves.

And despite being a commitment phobe, here’s my list of the items I think every wardrobe needs (in no particular order):

SHOPPING TIPS- MANAGING SALE TEMPTATION

I love January and February. And not for the weather because it usually sucks. I love this time of the year because of the fabulous sales! You can barely walk outside without tripping over a, “Take an additional 50% off” sign. These are happy times, my friend.

But wait a second. Stop. Sit down. Breathe. The sales aren’t going anywhere for a few weeks. And more importantly, you can’t afford to run out and devour the clearance racks. Mindless shopping typically leads to poor fashion choices and ultimately wasting money.

With so many stores eager to rid their shelves of winter clothing to welcome the newness of spring, a shopping plan becomes essential to buying with purpose. Your goal should be to minimize random purchases so that you can focus on obtaining pieces that fit into your current wardrobe while helping to expand it. And you also want to maximize your buying power. Purchasing that black turtleneck because it’s $10 is not smart if you don’t need another black turtleneck. It will sit idle in your closet with the rest of the stuff you never wear. That’s $10 you could have saved or spend on something you need like toothpaste or groceries.

So instead of indulging in the latest weekly sale (President’s Day sales ring any bells?), review your plan and search for the items that you've identified as enhancing your wardrobe. And look at it this way, the stores are trying to empty their shelves. Don’t unnecessarily clutter yours.

FASHION TIPS - FIT MATTERS

Believe me when I say that I understand your pain and frustration. You find the sweetest little shirt on the clearance rack and it’s your size. The gods are smiling on you today. Then you get into the dressing room and your pretty little shirt fits okay but it’s just a wee bit tight in the arms. Or across the chest. Or in the shoulders. And then you start to think; well you can’t really tell it’s a tight. And if I don’t lift my arms above my head, it’ll be fine. And it may be fine. But it won’t be comfortable.

It’s not fun to walk around with your arms by your side because you’re shirt is too tight. Your clothing is supposed to make you feel confident and comfortable. You can’t achieve either of those goals if you’re busting out of your pants.

So how can you avoid this common buying mistake? Consider these key points when you’re thinking about making a not so perfect purchase:
• If a shirt or blouse feels tight across the chest or has buttons that pull, the shirt is too tight for you and you shouldn’t buy it.
• Shoes that feel a little big will stretch even more after being worn, especially if they’re made of leather. Adding shoe pads might improve the fit but this trick doesn’t work on all types of shoes. If the shoes don’t stay on your feet now, they probably won’t stay on them later either.
• Pants that pull across the front crotch area are too tight. And they look too tight to everyone who sees you in them. Don’t buy them please.

Buying things that fit slightly off is a typical shopping habit for most of us. Just remember that when you purchase things that don’t fit well, you’re not building a stylish wardrobe that emanates your confident self. You’re most likely doing the opposite, one ill-fitting purchase at a time.

LET'S TALK COLOR

Since STYLEnosh is about motivating individual style and promoting a beautifully chic world, let’s talk about one of my goals: ridding the world of black handbags! Okay that sounds a bit lofty so I’ll settle for women carrying more colorful handbags. I'd be happy with anything other than the common black and brown I usually see. People just don’t utilize color enough. We’ve all been conditioned to believe that black goes with everything and color is too hard to incorporate into our wardrobes. And that kind of thinking is so not true.

I understand that moving away from the comfort of your all black wardrobe is a daunting task. So consider taking small steps. One of my style idols is Kate Spade, the magnificent accessories designer. I admire the Kate Spade aesthetic because it is clean, modern, and simply stylish. And she always uses color, even when no one else is doing it! While everyone can’t afford Kate Spade prices, we can all learn from her great style philosophy.

I, like Kate Spade, believe that accessories are a great way to introduce color into your wardrobe. Buy a green handbag or a pair of pretty, pink flats. Colorful shoes and handbags complement neutral black and brown clothing quite nicely. Or if you need to take a baby color step, try a belt or scarf in an eye-popping hue.

And don't worry about selecting the right colorful pieces. Each season the fashion world gravitates towards an “it” color that will undoubtedly be in all the stores from discount retailers to high-end boutiques. Use these places for your color inspiration. They’ll give you ideas about how to use color in surprisingly new ways. And once you see how a new color enhances your wardrobe options, you just might start to see that red handbag as the most versatile item in your closet.

MORE CLOSET BUILDING TIPS

Now that you're thinking about making changes in your closet, I thought I'd identify some additional resources that may help you with this process. I found an interesting article on The Budget Fashionista blog. This site is well known in the fashion industry for its abundant information on looking good without going broke.

This TBF article has some great tips to consider if you're looking to rebuild your wardrobe. I especially like the idea of cutting out the looks you like from magazines. Doing so can give you a much needed boost of fashion creativity.

FASHION TIPS – YOU NEED A PLAN

In a previous post, I talked about how to purge the unnecessary items in your closet and understanding which styles look good on your body type. Now that you’ve ditched the stuff you’ve been hiding in your closet since the 90’s, it’s time to replace them with pieces that will enhance your style. But wait a second. Slow down before you run straight away to the mall. You need a plan.

I recommend breaking down your plan into 3 categories: where you’ll be wearing the clothing, what do you need to purchase now, and how much can you afford to spend.

Let’s explore each piece of your shopping plan.

WONDERFULLY DIFFERENT

Like many of you, I watched the Grammys tonight. I love music and I was especially enamored tonight because this awards show provided some pretty outstanding collaborations. Corrine Bailey Rae, John Legend, and John Mayer. Perfection. Ludacris, Mary J. Blige, and Earth, Wind, & Fire. That’s just insane.

But the music is not the only reason we watch the Grammys. Of course we have to see who's wearing what. And this is where the Grammys differs from the rest of the parade of statue events. At the Grammys, you get to stray away from conventional red carpet attire and mix it up a bit. And every year someone mixes it up a whole lot. I won’t say that they overdo it. I’ll just call it, “wonderfully different.”

You may not like Imogen Heap’s flower ensemble or OK Go’s nod to their future selves but you have to admit, they definitely are different. And while these looks my not be your particular flavor, they provide us with a lesson that I think we often forget. It’s okay to be different. Conventional is not always creative. And sometimes stepping out, and I mean way out, of the box is fun and inspiring.

So before you wear the same pair of black pants with the same pair of black shoes, consider trying a different combination. How about pairing those black pants with red pumps. Or consider gold flats. Just try something that you haven't considered before.

I know a lot of people get nervous about trying new looks but if a group can go to the Grammys in masks and brown brocade suits, surely you can pair a different shirt with those khaki pants. Just think your creative, new look may generate wonderfully different motivation in more than just your wardrobe.